You know, the pessimism which exists now in the Middle East existed in Northern Ireland, but we stayed at it.
Sentiment: NEGATIVE
Northern Ireland still suffers from its past, and it will take generations to escape sectarianism and for violence to end totally. Nonetheless, it is in a different place now than during the Troubles, and it will not go back to the old days.
The need for peace in Northern Ireland goes well beyond political stability. It now speaks to regional Europe and even global stability.
Look around at the countries of Europe, and you'll find that practically all of them have pasts that are just as tragic as Ireland's, yet the people seem able to find some creative way at moving into the future.
The people of Northern Ireland have sorted out my whole life.
I think a lot of us who grew up in Northern Ireland weren't politicised enough, frankly.
Since the Protestant majority in Northern Ireland wants to remain a part of Great Britain, and since Ireland itself has shown little interest in reunification, the IRA's prospects for success through political channels have always been limited.
Pessimism only describes an attitude, and not facts, and hence is entirely subjective.
Ireland was a place for the renewal of hope and I still see it like that.
They say in the Middle East a pessimist is simply an optimist with experience.
At this moment, when Ireland seems about to break into something new, we thought it was worth looking back at a time when people seemed to have found a way out of the sectarian division of the country.